Over 600 suspected Sinaloa Cartel members arrested in 23-state sweep by DEA

From August 25 through August 29, 2025, DEA agents carried out coordinated enforcement operations across 23 domestic field divisions and seven foreign regions. The actions resulted in 617 arrests and the seizure of staggering amounts of illicit drugs, including 480 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 714,707 counterfeit fentanyl pills, 2,209 kilograms of methamphetamine, 7,469 kilograms of cocaine, and 16.55 kilograms of heroin.

Agents also confiscated $11.1 million in currency, $1.7 million in assets, and 420 firearms linked to cartel operations.

“These results demonstrate the full weight of DEA’s commitment to protecting the American people,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “Every kilogram of poison seized, every dollar stripped from the cartels, and every arrest we make represents lives saved and communities defended. DEA will not relent until the Sinaloa Cartel is dismantled from top to bottom.”

In February, the Trump Administration formally designated the Sinaloa Cartel, along with seven other groups, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Officials say the group continues to be one of the greatest threats to public safety, public health, and national security, flooding the U.S. with fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin.

The cartel operates through tens of thousands of members and associates worldwide, spanning at least 40 countries, and is responsible for every stage of the synthetic drug trade, from production and manufacturing to trafficking and money laundering.

Brian M. Clark, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division, emphasized that while this surge focused on a single week, operations against the cartel remain constant.

“The Sinaloa Cartel’s reach is vast and unremitting. This ruthless cartel is intent on cashing in, permeating our communities with their poison, with no regard to human suffering. For that reason, DEA’s work remains critical and laser-focused,” Clark said. “The success achieved during this operation is a direct result of the unwavering and exceptional work by the men and women of DEA.”

DEA officials underscored that the operation was not a stand-alone effort, but part of a larger whole-of-government strategy to confront the fentanyl crisis and dismantle cartel operations worldwide. The agency worked in tandem with the Homeland Security Task Force and other federal partners, utilizing enforcement, intelligence, and international collaboration to disrupt the cartel’s command and control structures.

“This coordinated action reflects DEA’s resolute commitment to confronting the fentanyl crisis and protecting American families,” the agency stated. “We will continue to use every resource available to dismantle the cartels responsible for the devastation in our communities.”